Combined carriage-spring



2 Sheets- -Sheet. 1. E. T SPRQU'I.

Garriage-Spring. No. 5,674; Patented July 18, 1848.

ITED STATES FATENT OFTG.

ERASTUS T. SPROUT, OF SPRINGVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED CARRIAGE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,674, dated July 18, 1848.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERAST'US T. SPRoUT, ofSpringville, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Constructionand Arrangement of the Springs of Pleasure-Carriages, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification,of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the several parts inconnection. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a top view, the bodybeing removed.

The same letters of reference in the different figures refer tocorresponding parts.

The nature of my invention and improvement'consists, in constructing thesprings of a four wheeled pleasure vehicle, of a serpentine zigzag form,arranging the same in diagonal lines across the carriage, and inconnecting them with each other and with the perch, by diagonal bars.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The wheels A, the axles B, the body C, and shafts D, are constructed andarranged in the usual, or in any convenient way. The front and hindaxles are connected together by means of a curved elastic spring steelperch E, and the springs F F F F*, with their connecting bars G, G, thediagonally opposite springs F F and F F* being re spectively connectedtogether by the bars Gr G, as represented in Fig. 3-the bars beingconnected to the perch and to each other at the point of crossing, bythe screw bolt, or rivet g, which passes through them. The

springs are made of rolled steel prepared in the usual way. The springsF F F F are each composed of several plates, or leaves, bent nearly inthe form of parabolic curves (see Figs. 1 and 2) and are connected byhinged joints to the axletrees behind, and

to the bolster before; the other ends are connected by hinged joints (aa a a) also, to the serpentine springs f f f 7; which latter,

are secured to the under side of the carriage body, in any suitablemanner. The springs F F F, F are connected at their vertex to thediagonal rods G G by the loops a 03, a a the interior leaves of thesesprings are the shortest, and the leaves gradually increase in length tothe outermost, which is the longest. This difference in the length ofthe several leaves of the springs is made for the purpose of giving tothem the required degree of flexibility, as in the common many-leafedspring. The springs f f f f may also beniade of any required number ofplates, or leaves, joined together in any suitable and convenient way,such as by rivets, headed studs, stirrups, or other analogous means.

Springs made and arranged in this manner from a given quantity of steelwill possess just double the strength and elasticity they would if madeand arranged in the usual manner, While at the same time they Wlllpossess a far greater degree of flexibility and will therefore moreeffectually intercept the shocks and concussions produced in drivingover an uneven road, and give tothe seat agently undulatory agreeablemotion, not unlike that of a boat in a gentle swell or ripple; which isa quality so desirable in and characteristic of a good pleasure vehicle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the springs F F F F 4 and diagonal braces G with theperch E in the manner herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses the twentieth day of November, A. D.

